When Sabrina Lopez sat across from legislators earlier this month, it was a realization of how her painful past has uniquely equipped her to be a powerful voice for vulnerable children and child sex trafficking victims.
Lopez, a survivor of trafficking, is now a Victims Services Coordinator for One More Child’s Anti-Trafficking program. As part of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Lopez joined her colleagues and One More Child leadership for a series of meetings with more than 40 legislators in Tallahassee, including Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, to share what One More Child is doing as a leader in the fight against sex trafficking and to emphasize the importance of improved collaboration at local, state, national and global levels.
“The fact that I’m a survivor as well a supervisor representing my team – it means the world,” Lopez said. “I am working on how we can help clients, as well as speaking on behalf of survivors. I never thought I would have a seat at the table. It was awesome.”
One More Child, whose international headquarters is in Lakeland, Fla., utilizes 24/7 mobile teams who work alongside law enforcement to serve victims, operates a DCF-certified safe home, and is a global leader in education and advocacy efforts.
The purpose of having more than a dozen of the organization’s staff descend on Florida’s capitol during National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, as part of One More Child’s annual “Traffick Stop” awareness campaign, is to expedite partnerships and opportunities to serve more vulnerable children and victims of trafficking.
“These conversations will catalyze ongoing collaboration between One More Child’s Anti-Trafficking program and government leaders to further develop training, legislation, recovery efforts and trauma-informed care for child sex trafficking survivors across the state of Florida, nationally and globally,” said Dr. Jerry Haag, President/CEO of One More Child. “The valuable partnerships One More Child has created with law enforcement, health care professionals, business owners, government officials, and church leaders allow us to spread awareness, education and care to vulnerable children.”
One More Child was recently awarded a $3.1 million contract through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) by the Florida Attorney General’s office to expand its direct care services. In early February, the organization is hosting an Anti-Trafficking Conference in Guatemala at the National Palace in cooperation with the office of President Alejandro Giammattei.
Marianne Thomas, Senior Director of Anti-Trafficking Mobile Teams for One More Child, said domestic initiatives like “Traffick Stop” are important for lawmakers to better understand the types of bills that will create tougher penalties for buyers and traffickers, as well as appreciate the legal assistance and long-term resources victims deserve. Thomas, also a survivor of trafficking, said making personal connections with government officials reminds them that human trafficking can and does happen in every community.
“Anytime that someone takes the time to hear my personal story and allows it to penetrate their soul in order to drive them into action to stop this heinous crime it allows the acts committed against me to have a purpose,” she said.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION:
One More Child has a legacy of nearly 120 years of providing Christ-centered services to vulnerable children and struggling families.
At more than 50 locations in 14 countries around the world, One More Child meets the needs of hungry children, sex trafficked children and teens, single moms, foster children and struggling families. In 2020, we impacted more than 324,044 children and provided more than 19 million meals.
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